How are British visitors viewed?

[Morgstar]

I posted this same story as reply to another thread but wanted to get more people's view so have started a new thread for it.

I would like to know how everyone (including other Brits) view British tourists at WDW. Do other nationalities find us rude? Indeed are you British and find other british people rude? Do you think there is a minority of British people who act in ways they shouldnt that spoil it for the rest of us? I understand everyone has the right to enjoy themselves as much as possible. After all they have spent thousands of pounds on getting there and should enjoy themselves but they should also respect others trying to enjoy themselves equally as much.

I ask this question because of a situation that arose while we were last in the MK......
My GF and I tried to get a table in one of the restuarants at the end of main street, it was quite late and the CM politely told us they were not sitting anyone else that evening. We fully understood and stepped to one side to decide what to do as regards eating. As we did so an American couple approached the same CM who had been joined by one of the servers. We could over hear the American couple asking for a table for two. Again the CM said they weren't seating anyone else that evening but after some umming and arring they got sat.

My GF was furious and informed me that it was probably because they knew we were British. My GF was a server in the Rose and Crown for a year and she said that everyone knew British people were generally poor tippers and therefore we shouldnt expect CM's to go over the top to help because they believe we wouldnt appriciate it in the form of s tip. (this is not to say that CM members werent very nice to us just that they would go too far out of their way to help.)

This has got me to think what peoples opinions are of the British. I have been all over the world and you can always spot british families and generally i find some of them embarrassing. I dont wish to sound like a snob because im certainly not but i do worry because many of us British tip extremely well and try to conduct ourselves in a way that allows everyone to enjoy themselves.

Does anyone have any opinions of us British? I would be interested to know your views on this subject.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I'm curious to see what the responses are too.
We sat next to a very nice British family at the Spectro parade last month, and they were as nice as could be. (the little girl in full head to toe princess gear and she was thrilled when Prince Charming blew her a kiss from the float - it was too cute!) We were talking to them and I envied their vacation. They were spending over 3 weeks total in FL, going to all the parks (Universal and Sea World included) and had obviously spent a great deal of money to do so.
I am sure you encounter a few rude Americans while you are here, but have found that is more the exception than the norm. Unfortunately there are rude people from everywhere, and I doubt very much that anyone would blame it on country of origin.
I for one appreciate your spending your vacation time (and money) in our country and hope you continue to do so in the future.

 

[Squirlz]

To me, people are people. Some are rude, most aren't. Nationality doesn't matter.

In the case you outlined it was probably just a case of the squeekier wheel getting the grease.

Two of my best friends are ex-Pats and they're the nicest most generous people you could know.

 

[northie]

If that is true and that was their reasoning, it is outrageous. In travels to Britain and in meeting and chatting with British visitors to the US on many trips all over the country including WDW, I can't imagine people characterizing the whole nation as rude or anything else.

Everyone we have met (outside of one couple on the Underground who had their tongues down each other's throat the whole ride and hands all over...so much so I made my 7 year old son sit on the other side of the train car by his dad so he couldn't see it so well!) has been lovely and friendly and we enjoyed talking to them. I am so looking forward to next year's trip to France where we plan to spend several days at Disneyland Paris with a sidetrip back to London! (Yay, Chunnel!) We haven't been there since 1997 and I must see the London Eye and the gherkin!

I am very sorry that happened to you. It shouldn't have. I only hope there was some explanation that isn't readily apparent, because that was inexcusable.

Sara

 

[Kath2003]

I'd say if anything, the Brits are perceived as not being ones to make a fuss. You accepted the response and moved on, whereas the CM probably saw that the other couple were about to kick off and decided it would be less hassle to find a table for them. Generally Brits "reserve" is taken advantage of

 

[Robo]

We see and meet a lot of Brits when we visit WDW.

We find most of the them courteous and delightful.

We also find some of ANY of the guests, from anywhere in or out of the USA, quite annoying.

I can't imagine that the particular situation at the restaurant had anyhting to do with nationalities.

It could have been just a pushy guest from anywhere who "looked like trouble" and was being appeased to save causing a bigger scene... who knows??

 

[kid-at-heart]

Hello,
Personally, I do not find British tourists any different than all tourists (myself included). Some folks are nice, some are not. I am sorry that you experienced an unpleasant encounter at WDW. If it helps any - the Brits I have met have been very charming, generous and not at all rude or snobbish.

 

[TheWeasel]

"spot british families and generally i find some of them embarrassing"

There are NO embarrising "ugly Americans" here!Actually I always find British families to be very friendly and great for impromtu conversations.

 

[Kath2003]

I love the fact that the Brits are always the ones eating everything with a knife and fork, including fries and pizza. I did NOT know it was culturally acceptable to eat bacon with your fingers - totally NOT done in the UK by anyone over the age of 3 - until a few weeks ago when someone on the DIS mentioned it.

 

[David R]

I debated whether to post this or not as I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but I have several of my friends and acquaintances who work in the service industry in Orlando, including WDW.

The main problem with British guests is the lack of tipping. In the US it is customary to leave at least 15% of the check as a tip, 20% if the service has been very good.

Servers and bartenders in the most US make below minimum wage, this means that the people serving you make about $3-$6 an hour and depend on tips to pay their bills (Orlando is not a very cheap place to live.) There are a few states where this is not allowed so they pay at least minimum wage, but it is the norm here in Orlando and in most of the US.

I agree that they shouldn't get paid that low, but that's the way it is.

So servers will often ask the host/hostess things like "please do not sit any more British parties in my section."

At some places servers get a portion of their tips for the day taken away which is then shared with the host/hostess, bartenders and bus boys since they are helping the servers make money and they don't directly receive tips. So if this is the case, and they don't get a tip from you, it's actually costing them money to serve your table.

I know it sounds weird, and again, I don't want to point any fingers and say that you don't tip. But that's the feeling among the hospitality industry workers in Orlando.

 

[WillCAD]

Hey, I LOVE runing into the Brits when I'm at WDW!

All of the Brits I've met over the years at WDW have been wonderfully warm, friendly folks who are enjoying their "holidays" just as much as I am. I like to tease some of them, however; I often find Brits in line at my favorite CS meal in Epcot - the Yorkshire County Fish Shop - and tease them about coming all the way to America for an order of fish and chips.

I have never seen a rude British tourist or CM at WDW (something I can't say for a few other nationalities, my own included).

I understant the tipping thing; since in the UK they actually PAY servers a decent wage, tipping is not common over there and many Brits simply don't know that it's different here. They're not rude or cheap, they're just from a different culture.

And Kath2003 - in America we eat LOTS of stuff with our hands: burgers, fries (you call them chips), chicken, pizza, bacon. I think I even know a few people who eat soup and oatmeal with their hands...

 

[dbk1029]

I think as a PP mentioned the CM probably felt the Americans would make a scene and it would be easier to seat them rather than deal with their scene making.

I personally have never encountered a rude person from the U.K. in my travels to WDW or anywhere else come to think of it.

 

[Wingedheart]

I agree with Squirlz - it's not nationality that matters. Everyone is an individual and should be judged for who they are not where they are from.

I have some very fabulous friends that I met on the Virtual Magic Kingdom and then, in person, at WDW last year. I don't fault them for being British! They're wonderful!! My only problem with them is they live so far away and I miss them!

 

[Fast Pass]

With one exception, I have found that the British people I've met to be warm and friendly people. I don't find that they tip more or less than any other nationality. I think it has more to do with cultural differences than being cheap. For example, I live in an area where 10% tip is sufficient but in New England or California tips upwards of 20% are acceptable. It just matters where in the world you come from.

I also found by just chatting with people from Britian that ya'll don't necessarily like tea and crumpets. I thought it was like a national law that you guys stopped everything for tea time.

I find the British to be fun loving and good natured, even a little wild! I have yet to meet one stuffy, egotistical Britian.

I do have one question though, is it proper to call you British or Brits?

 

[followme2disney]

How can you tell if someone is British from their appearance? Unless someone specifically told me that they were from Britain or another country I would never fully be able to know where they are from. When in WDW I assume that some people are from Britain because of the way they pronounce certain words or pattern speech. I never really thought much about it. Anyone that I have assumed was from Britain seemed okay to me. I have never seen anything that would be considered embarassing. But I guess that is relative.

 

[pednurse]

While in WDW last week we heard many, many people with British accents (which my DH & I find enjoyable to listen to). I spent 45 minutes talking with one nice British lady while we waited for Ariel's autograph. All in all, I did not find any of them more or less rude than any other people there from any culture. There are cultural differences and you accept that, and for the most part we only experienced polite people during our vacation.

 

[Mary2e]

I an always spot the Brits from a mile away because the men are always wearing their football jerseys, and sometimes their shoes too

That said, I don't have an opinion one way or the other. They are just like other guests at WDW - there to have a good time

 

[flyinglizard]

Geeze Morgstar...

Sorry about the incident but I am sure it had nothing to do with being British. At least I would hope so...

My future SonIL is dual-cit and he often wears Union Jack or Manchester United jerseys to EPCOT so that he can meet other Brits and talk soccer.

There are many things I think of regarding the British, all of them good, but rude is not one of them.

I've found far more rude Americans than British. Don't ever remember a rude Brit! Maybe you are confusing "British" with "Brazilian"?

 

[Loreniki]

Please read!!

Hey.. I love British Ppl.... I don't think they're rude.. they're soo nice and friendly and always want to talk and make new friends...

I guess for my nacionality sometimes there're problems... some ppl think that the mexicans are too dummy or something like that.. wich makes me sad =(
we are not all the same.. ppl... lots of mexican are rude I know... like the ones who booed miss Usa but, we are not all the same..

I guess It's the same stuff with the op. it's like an stereotype we have !!! but it's bad many times..

anyway... I love to meet people all over the world!!

 

[jberry5]

It's generally fairly easy to spot them if they have a toothy smile.

Just kidding, I'm not much the outgoing type, but do have some conversations with others once in a while. Mostly they are from here, but I have spoken to a couple British families and always enjoyed the talks. I always like the ask how long it took them, etc. and love hearing them say it's just a hop/skip over the pond. Only other time I hear that is while watching The Open (British Open) or Ryder Cup.

I only got the impression that they seemed a bit more laid back, etc., and very polite, which could have been the issue at the restaurant. You didn't make a scene, while the others had no issue in creating one to get their juvenial way.